By: David Perry, Municipal Sales Manager for Thompson Pump and Manufacturing Company.
CHALLENGE
After years of contending with major and destructive storms, municipal leaders in Naples, Florida determined they needed a new stationary emergency bypass pumping system to ensure there were no sanitary sewer overflows.
In early 2014, Thompson Pump & Manufacturing Company teamed up with a large engineering firm to recommend the right system for the job. During the next few years, several major storm events allowed the consulting teams to gather key information on the pump capacity required, the low, average and peak flow rates, as well as inflow and infiltration due to the elevated water tables in southwest Florida.
SOLUTION
The design for the new booster pump station was drawn up and finalized, to include three electric-driven, chopper pumps as the primary pumps during normal day-to-day operations, three 12-inch diesel-driven stationary Thompson pumps, and one 500 KW standby generator in the event of a power failure. Since the standby generator was only for providing auxiliary power to the station, the Thompson pumps were critical to supplement changes in flow/pressure and prevent any potential overflows at the multiple upstream pump stations. The stationary Thompson Pump models were recommended based on a total peak flow rate of 3,700 gallons per minute per pump with up to 150 feet of total dynamic head moving 11,000 gallons per minute total.
Selecting the correct pump for each scenario was critical. The suction side of the primary electric-driven pumps and the stationary Thompson pumps were all designed to connect to a common, pressurized suction header pipe with automated gate valves that could redirect flow or isolate specific sections of the system when needed. The booster pump station was designed to pump to two different locations, either another booster pump station or the local wastewater reclamation facility much farther away. In addition, the pumps needed to be automatically controlled by in-line pressure transducers, and as a backup plan, all pumps could start, stop or change RPM with a command from a remote PLC – monitored and controlled through the municipal SCADA system. The entire control sequence was the most important part of the design because six different pumps were being used, in parallel, as needed.
RESULTS
In early 2021, the new booster pump station was put online and the existing station was decommissioned. The standby generator and all three stationary Thompson pumps are exercised regularly and FPMs performed as needed. Since that time, the station was tested with massive rain events, tropical storms and even category four Hurricane Ian, which made landfall just a few miles north of Naples, Florida. To date, zero sanitary sewer overflows associated with this new booster station have been reported.
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About Thompson Pump and Manufacturing Company:
An ISO 9001 Certified company, Thompson Pump and Manufacturing Company is an award-winning, full-service manufacturer and provider of high-quality, high-performance pumps, pumping equipment and engineering expertise for bypass pumping, dewatering, mining and flood control. Thompson Pump defines what is “state-of-the-art” in the industry and is dedicated to producing new and innovative dewatering and construction pump products. Family-owned and operated for more than 50 years, Thompson Pump continually seeks innovative and creative talent to join the team. For more, visit thompsonpump.com.
For the past 19 years, David Perry has worked at Thompson Pump & Manufacturing Company in various positions. Perry was promoted to municipal sales manager in 2014 and oversees all government business activity for the U.S. and Canada. Perry teaches at Thompson Pump’s Pumpology® schools, conducts regional trainings and has presented at several national conferences including WWETT and FRWA. Perry holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and is also an active member of AWWA, APWA Central Florida Branch, FLAGFA-FL Association for Governmental Fleet Administrators and various other organizations.
